The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power showrunners Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne confirm the status of season 3. After premiering on Prime Video in 2022, the hit Lord of the Rings series, which chronicles Sauron’s rise to power during the Second Age of Middle-earth, returned for season 2 this past summer. Though reviews were positive for the sophomore outing, viewership took a dip and there has been some uncertainty regarding the status of The Rings of Power season 3.

During a recent interview with Screen Rant, McKay and Payne confirm that work is now underway on The Rings of Power season 3, meaning the show has seemingly been renewed. Though the showrunners are careful not to let any details slip regarding what audiences should expect, Payne reveals that they’re “prepping now, very, very intensely.” Check out their full exchange below:

JD Payne: We’re working on it.

Patrick McKay: We’re working now!

JD Payne: We’re prepping now, very, very intensely. Um—

Patrick McKay: That’s all we can say!

[…]

JD Payne: We do [have some exciting stuff coming]. It’s gonna be really good. We’re excited.

Patrick McKay: It’s gonna be awesome.

What The Rings Of Power’s Season 3 Confirmation Means For The Lord Of The Rings Show

Amazon’s Plan For The Show Explained

Though The Rings of Power‘s season 2 reviews have largely been more positive than season 1, viewership did decline. This isn’t entirely unexpected given the massive marketing push that was behind season 1, but it did raise questions about the show’s future. McKay and Payne – and Amazon – have long held that they have a five-season plan for The Rings of Power, and the confirmation of season 3 means this plan is one step closer to coming to fruition.

Addressing The Rings of Power‘s performance, Amazon executive Jennifer Salke told Variety in October that she feels “really good” and that they’ll “continue to make the show as long as we see global customers loving it and watching it.” If season 3 continues the show’s strong viewership, then, two more seasons will seemingly move forward. As for when season 3 will arrive after the Rings of Power season 2 finale, the confirmation that McKay and Payne are currently in prep could suggest that the new episodes will go to camera next year, meaning a late 2026 release is possible.

Filming for season 2 took place in the U.K. from October 2022 to June 2023, and season 3 will presumably take about the same amount of time.

Our Take On The Rings Of Power Season 3’s Confirmation

The Lord Of The Rings Show Deserves To Continue

Though The Rings of Power isn’t a flawless show, it’s still remarkable to see television being made at this scale and budget level. Season 2 was an improvement over season 1, in many ways, and it’s entirely possible that season 3 will continue this trend as McKay and Payne delve further into their Middle-earth vision.

The Rings Of Power’s Rotten Tomatoes Scores

Season
RT Critics Score
RT Audience Score

1
84%
38%

2
84%
60%

Season 3 will be an interesting test regarding the show’s long-term prospects when it comes to viewership. After season 1 left many viewers cold, season 2’s audience could consist more of those who actually enjoy the show and its characters, meaning it could hold strong in season 3 and beyond. With work now underway on The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 3, more information about a filming and release timeline is hopefully not far off.